Sugar Encrusted Pear Dumplings

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 small pears, ripe but firm
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1 refrigerated pie crust (1/2 of a 15 ounce package)
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup coarse sugar

Recipe

• 1 in a small bowl, stir together pecans, honey and lemon peel. use a melon baller to remove the cores from the bottom of the pears, then peel the pears. spoon about 2 tablespoons of the pecan mixture into the hollow of each pear.
• 2 lightly roll pie crust into a 12-inch circle; cut into 4 wedges. place 1 pear on each wedge. brush edges of pastry with milk. gently shape dough around pears, trimming away excess dough and pressing to seal.
• 3 you can make ahead to this point, then cover and chill up to several hours. when ready to cook, add 5 minutes to the cooking time.
• 4 brush pastry with milk; sprinkle all over with coarse sugar or roll pears in the coarse sugar. place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree fahrenheit oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes (30 minutes if completing from chilled).
• 5 if desired, drizzle with extra honey just before serving. serve warm.